Pre-College/Youth Programs
Summer Youth Programs
Kids U
2011 Classes
Super Summer Program for Kids Ages 8-12
Session 1: July 11-15
Session 2: July 18-22
Session 3: July 25–29
Session 4: August 1-5
Full-day fee: $188 per session
Half-day fee: $99 per session
Click here to register.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Classes held on the SOU Ashland campus
- Options of morning or afternoon programs
- Free supervision for lunch period and escort from morning to afternoon classes by a staff of trained college counselors
PLEASE NOTE: Those registered for sessions of Kids U will be sent an information packet with important program details. You may also print out the forms below:
To receive the Kids U full-day discount when registering online, you must enter the code “fullday” for both the morning and afternoon sessions on the My Shopping Cart page.
View Instructor Bios
SESSION I: July 11-15
Morning Classes, 10:00 am-noon
Get On the Ball!
Join this non-stop action class where you’ll use all kinds of balls for play, relays, strategic games and balancing exercises. Enhance your spirit of adventure as you learn ‘bounce back’ skills on the field and as part of a great team. We’ll play traditional games like Dodge Ball with a twist as you build skill and confidence.
Instructor: Vanessa Newman
Location: McNeal Pavilion Fields
Course No: 400069 Fee: $99
Picture This!
Explore the art of experimental and alternative photographic techniques in this unique, hands-on photography class! You’ll learn about hand coloring photos, how to transfer photos onto different surfaces and how to make photo collage. Discover techniques to take better photos as you explore subjects outdoors, in architecture, in the world around you and then apply them to your pictures. Photography experience not required. Note: all students will need to bring a working digital camera.
Instructor: Mary Wilkins-Kelly
Location: Campbell E
Course No: 400070 Fee: $99
Shakespeare at Play
Discover how much fun you can have as you explore the words and stories of the world’s greatest playwright .You will improvise with your classmates and play games and puzzles of every possible description to bring the Bard’s famous words to life in this action packed theatre workshop!
Instructor: Annette Lewis
Location: Campbell A
Course No: 400071 Fee: $99
Wet and Wild Water Polo
Have a blast as you learn the techniques and tactical moves of this fast paced water game. Whether you play as a defender, offense (utility) or goalie the quarters will fly by as you experience this classic game that was the first Olympic team sport. It is described as “a basketball game in water”. Your goal is to have fun, get wet, and score more goals than the opposing team!
Instructor: Christi Gilmore
Location: McNeal Pavilion Pool
Course No: 400072 Fee: $99
Afternoon Classes, 1:00-3:00pm
Ancient Skills and Scouts
Explore the natural world and excite your senses as you build shelters out of sticks and leaves, craft primitive digging tools and learn how to use camouflage in the outdoors. Experience the excitement of sneaking and hiding games and lots of fun nature based activities while focusing on the fundamentals of outdoor survival, looking for signs of animal tracks and mapping your environment using your memory skills and real maps.
Instructor: Matthew Yaeger
Location: SC 225 and & Roca Creek Riparian Area on the SOU Campus
Course No: 400073 Fee: $99
Beginning Drawing and Cartooning
Experiment with pencils, erasers, markers and other art supplies to bring out the best of your imagination as you learn to draw from a professional artist. Each student will receive a small guide book demonstrating the techniques that are taught. You’ll learn how to create a comic book while drawing characters, animals and backgrounds to bring them to life.
Instructor: Craig Honeycutt
Location: MA 102
Course No: 400074 Fee: $99
Blast Off! Model Rockets
Here’s a blast of a class! Learn the basics of building model rockets and the scientific principles which allow them to fly. You will explore the preparations necessary to safely launch your rocket and experience the excitement of seeing it fly!
Instructor: Graham Hetland
Location: Campbell E
Course No: 400075 Fee: $99
Marine Mammals and You!
Have a whale of a time as you become an expert on marine mammals and how you are connected to them. You’ll conduct a blubber bag experiment, listen to the sounds and songs of marine mammals and even design your own “whale song”. You’ll experience a whale size activity as you examine skulls, teeth and pelts. Discover how human activities affect these sea creatures and how you can help to protect them.
Instructor: Chris Rennaker
Location: Campbell A
Course No: 400076 Fee: $99
SESSION II: July 18-22
Morning Classes, 10:00 – noon
Just to Bug You
Explore the world of our creepy crawlies through up close and personal observations, including the proper handling and identification of insects. We’ll explore insect vision, build robotic insects, and even practice as amateur forensic entomologists. It’s definitely time to get buggy!
Instructor: Heather Ransom
Location: Campbell C
Course No: 410066 Fee: $99
Say it, Sing it, Play it!
Channel your endless energy into making music! Explore rhythms and singing and dabble in drumming. We’ll journey through amazing musical games, songs and movement in this one-of-a-kind, fun-filled class as we create your own musical pieces and songs using your own words and musical inspiration!
Instructor: Heather Hutton
Location: Campbell A
Course No: 410067 Fee: $99
Science for Inquiring Minds
Did you know that oxygen is released from plants? Find out how to measure how much! Use a stop watch and a Slinky investigate the physics of a wave and record your findings in your field notebook. Dive into an up close look at ecosystems as you learn to mount and eyeball slides under a microscope and use real scientific tools and methods to conduct experiments using plant samples from a creek in this hands-on science inquiry class.
Instructor: Chris Rennaker
Location: SC 225
Course No: 410069 Fee: $99
Young Rembrandts
Draw yourself crazy in this fabulous class! You’ll learn fundamental skills of composition and experiment with light and shade as you compose your very own masterpieces. Guided instruction will help you imagine and then create drawings that include still life, landscapes and portraits while you apply new skills and detail to each piece and master new techniques each day.
Instructor: Craig Honeycutt
Location: MA 101
Course No: 410070 Fee: $99
Afternoon Classes, 1:00–3:00pm
Culinary Creations
Experience the wonderful world of cooking using recipes and inspiration from around the world! You will measure, mix and stir a using the tools and machines of the culinary trade The skills and techniques you learn will help you create delicious snacks and meals that are sure to impress!
Instructor: SOU Staff
Location: TBA
Course No: 410073 Fee: $99
Gene Monster Mania
Come to the land of Gene Monsters, where pink hair, lower fangs, five eyes and seven arms are an everyday sight! You’ll explore why some gene monsters look like their parents while others don’t. Learn the basics about the human traits that make your family say you look like just like your uncle or aunt as you engage in hands-on ‘gene monster’ activities to find out how traits are passed from one generation to the next.
Instructor: Heather Ransom
Location: Campbell C
Course No. 410068 Fee: $99
Monster Anatomy
Learn how to draw elves, dwarves, orchs, trolls, fairies, dragons, and other creatures from an understanding of their anatomy. You will also create a large map depicting realistic drawings of their dwellings, caves, mountains, forests, rivers, roads, trails, and as many details as you can imagine!
Instructor: Craig Honeycutt
Location: MA 102
Course No: 410071 Fee: $99
Where in the World?
What do tweezers, magnifying lenses and Google Earth have in common? Find out in this exciting outdoor exploration of Roca Creek on the SOU campus. Get your hands on GPS (Global Positioning System) units to mark points and plot areas where you will collect and analyze the many species and plants that live there. Back at the computer lab you’ll label your findings using GIS (Geographic Information Systems) software, analyze water samples and examine your finds!
Instructor: Chris Rennaker
Location: SC 225 and PC East
Course No: 410072 Fee: $99
SESSION III: July 25-29
Morning Classes, 10:00-noon
Explosive Science
Exploding . . . foaming . . . popping . . . spraying . . . science can make a real mess! Explore why things explode, implode and sizzle. In this class you'll learn the science behind things like soda spraying out of a can, Old Faithful, building implosion, earthquakes, and rockets. Have safe fun as you make your own mini-rockets, volcanoes, Mentos fountains and more!
Instructor: SOU Staff
Location: Campbell C
Course No: 420065 Fee: $99
Fencing Fun
Whether you aspire to be a swashbuckler, heroine, or future Olympian, this session is for you! Come take part in a recreational and competitive sport described as “chess at 1,000 miles an hour.” You will learn fun and safe fencing skills and etiquette as you join in one-on-one swordplay and exciting group games with the nationally certified instructors of Southern Oregon Fencing Center. Note: All equipment supplied.
Instructor: Dylan Shelton and Sulaiman Shelton
Location: TBA
Course No: 420067 Fee: $99
Hot on the Court - Cool in the Pool
Whether you want to improve your game or are just a beginning player, you will learn creative drills, basic strokes, serving techniques, and how to play a match. After heating it up on the court, cool down with your teammates in the SOU pool playing water games.
Instructor: Dana Yearsley
Location: McNeal Tennis Courts
Course No: 420066 Fee: $99
Radical Rocks and Ropes
If you like to climb to new heights and are looking for some excitement, come learn how to climb like a pro on the University’s climbing wall. You will learn basic bouldering techniques through hands-on activities and games, practice belaying techniques with a partner, and learn proper equipment use and safety skills. By the end of the week, heights and adventure will be your new best friends!
Instructor: Karin Burroughs
Location: McNeal Rock Wall
Course No: 400068 Fee: $99
Afternoon Classes, 1:00–3:00 pm
Big Bite: The Science of Sharks
Become an expert on this mysterious creature as you explore the truth behind the myths about sharks. You’ll get hands-on scientific experience as you learn about the differences between sharks and other fish and their behaviors, examine real shark teeth, jaws and view shark egg cases. You’ll be transformed as you use your artistic skill to design your own shark and create a shark mask in the tradition of the Indians from the Pacific Northwest and design your own education campaign to teach people about sharks.
Instructor: Chris Rennaker
Location: Campbell E
Course No: 420072 Fee: $99
Hogwarts Magical Arts Studio
Come one, come all and learn how to draw and illustrate your favorite mythical characters and creatures from Harry Potter’s adventures or other stories. You will learn different sketching techniques and work with pens, ink, and charcoal. Create your very own book cover as you immerse yourself into the artistic world of mythical creatures.
Instructor: Craig Honeycutt
Location: MA 102
Course No: 420069 Fee: $99
Improvisation Station
Anything can happen when you arrive at the improvisation station! You’ll strengthen your funny bone as you create characters in an instant, play theatre games and learn all you need to know to create an improvised scene with a partner or a whole group. Find out how the art of saying “yes” on stage can change the outcome of a story and how making mistakes can add to the action!
Instructor: Kyndra Laughery
Location: Campbell A
Course No: 420070 Fee: $99
Incredible Edible Science
Do you love science? Would you like to work in a food science lab? How about getting a taste of the earth, life and physical sciences through lots of incredible edible hands-on activities. You’ll explore the parts that make up cells, discover geopancakes and explore the rock cycle all in a week filled with food and fun!
Instructor: SOU Staff
Location: Campbell C
Course No: 420071 Fee: $99
SESSION IV: August 1-5
Morning Classes, 10:00-12:00
Fractured Fairy Tale Theatre
In this adventurous class you will experiment with performing traditional fairy tales and then staging them with a twist! Through improvisation games, brainstorming, and some fundamentals of acting and staging, you will bring new life to the fairy tale genre on the stage. Can you imagine Little Red Riding Hood as a Western or the Three Little Pigs setting up a surf shop? Anything is possible!
Instructor: Eve Smyth
Location: Campbell A
Course No: 430068 Fee: $99
Sewing is a Hoot!
Explore color, texture and trims in this creative sewing class. You will learn all about fabric types, tools of the trade, and techniques like how to pin, cut, and stitch by hand and on a sewing machine. You will make a variety of small projects including a needle book and pin cushion. Your main project will be a one-of-a-kind owl pillow. Note: Sewing machines will be provided (1 machine for every 2 students). Please bring a shoebox size storage box, sewing scissors and straight pins to class. All other tools and materials will be provided.
Instructor: Susan Marcu
Location: Campbell E
Course No: 430070 Fee: $99
Painting Dots like George Seurat!
How can you use painted dots to create a picture of a person or a scene? What colors would you choose to paint happiness or sadness? Paint your world as you experiment with brush strokes like dots, dashes and smudges. You’ll learn how to mix colors and shades and paint on a canvas all your own!
Instructor: Tia Gardner
Location: Campbell D
Course No: 430069 Fee: $99
Virtual Dissection
Have you ever wondered what it was like to dissect an animal? Explore how dissection works in the virtual world where you can experience how scientists examine animal systems and organs without cutting into anything real. Find out how to use virtual scalpels, tweezers and pins while rotating, cutting and separating while you work at your own pace. Take home your own copy of this virtual software to share with family and your friends at school!
Instructor: Heather Ransom
Location: Campbell C
Course No:430071 Fee: $99
Afternoon Classes, 1:00–3:00 pm
Forensic Detectives
Become a detective and conduct forensic science tests on evidence found at mock crime scenes. Learn crime scene analysis and explore physical evidence for clues. You will work with fingerprints, hair, fibers and inspect impressions. Discover CSI basics as you investigate chromatography, examine blood samples, and test for DNA to piece together the information you need to crack mysteries!
Instructor: Heather Ransom
Location: Campbell C
Course No: 430072 Fee: $99
Lego Robotics Unlimited!
Lego Mindstorm: Where engineering meets technology. Have fun as you construct Legos all week. Work in pairs to solve challenges by building and programming robots using the Lego Mindstorm equipment. You will learn mechanical and software design, problem-solving and teamwork skills and celebrate the challenge of building advanced Lego structures.
Instructor: Graham Hetland
Location: Campbell E
Course No: 430073 Fee: $99
Movie-Making Magic
Learn all the filmmaking elements—scripts, props, costumes, directing, cameras, and more. Create original scripts, and then shoot the movie using digital video equipment. The last day will be movie day, so bring your family and enjoy some treats.
Instructor: SOU Staff
Location: Campbell D
Course No: 430074 Fee: $99
Puppet Extravaganza!
Create fantastical puppet characters out of paper mache, tubes, sequins, feathers, fabric and a whole array of fun things. You’ll learn to design and draw a story board together for a class puppet show and let your characters come alive on stage! Discover some tips on acting and sets as you create a puppet extravaganza never seen before!
Instructor: Lisa Ameijide
Location: Campbell A
Course No: 430075 Fee: $99